Poland should develop nuclear weapons research, defence minister says
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has said he supports Poland developing its own nuclear weapons research and development capabilities.
He made the statement at a press conference in Krakow on Monday referring to an earlier comment made by the Polish President Karol Nawrocki that, given the threat from Moscow, Poland should look at developing its own nuclear weapons.
On Sunday, Nawrocki told private broadcaster Polsat News that he was "a great supporter" of Poland joining the nuclear project and pursuing the path of developing its own nuclear potential with respect for all international regulations.
Commenting on these words, Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters that he was "in favour of developing our own research and development capabilities" and that when it comes to nuclear capabilities, "it's better to do more than to communicate and talk about plans and intentions."
He said that the issue of nuclear weapons is "probably the most sensitive of sensitive topics" and requires "diligence, reliability, action, and not big discussions on the subject."
"It's better to achieve results than just have dreams in this regard. They are necessary, but the more action, the more decisions at the NATO level, the greater the effectiveness," Kosiniak-Kamysz continued.
"The Nuclear Sharing programme and the nuclear umbrella are certainly things that are always the subject of NATO analysis and joint allied decisions," he added.
He also said that the French President Emmanuel Macron’s openness to discussing the extension of France's nuclear deterrent to European allies "is also welcome."
Europe depends on the United States for its so-called nuclear umbrella. Nuclear Sharing is a NATO mechanism within its nuclear deterrence policy that involves member countries without nuclear weapons in the planning, training, and potential use of American nuclear warheads deployed in Europe. Macron has recently said France is open to discussing extending the protection offered by its nuclear deterrence to its European allies.
In 1969, Poland ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The treaty prohibits countries possessing the technology to build nuclear weapons from transferring them to any recipient. Furthermore, the treaty's signatories committed to halting nuclear testing. (PAP)
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